Apple cider vinegar is often touted as a “cure-all” that can help with anything from killing weeds to eliminating head lice to treating jellyfish stings. When ingested (generally, one dose is about two tablespoons), the vinegar has been linked to lower blood sugar levels and cholesterol, as well as weight loss. While the evidence isn’t a hundred percent, the vinegar has been used for centuries for its health and cleansing properties.

In her forthcoming book Cooking Well: Beautiful Skin (available in November), author Elizabeth TenHouten shares yet another benefit of apple cider vinegar—improving acne! We were, of course, instantly intrigued. She provides a DIY “Apple Cider Acne Mask” recipe that promises to alleviate acne in 15 minutes:

Directions: Mix together 1/4 cup low sodium tomato paste, 1 tsp olive oil, and apple cider vinegar until you have a smooth paste. Apply to neck and face, leave on for 15 minutes, and then rinse off with warm water. Splash cold water on your face to close your pores.

Why does this work? When applied to the skin, apple cider vinegar’s acidic nature encourages the natural skin-cell replacement cycle—in other words, it helps to remove dead skin and unclog pores. The vinegar is also rich in Vitamin A, which is important for healthy, acne-free skin.

Visit Amazon.com to preorder Cooking Well: Beautiful Skin, and click here for more sample DIY recipes from Elizabeth TenHouten!